The United States has broken ground on its first new rare-earths mine in seven decades, a Ramaco Resources project near Sheridan, Wyoming that aims to extract an estimated 1.7 million tons of rare-earth oxides from coal seams at the Brook Mine. The deposit includes heavier elements such as dysprosium and neodymium, materials essential for advanced magnets, military electronics and electric vehicles. Washington is coupling fresh production with government financing. The Pentagon last week disclosed a roughly $400 million investment in MP Materials—the operator of the Mountain Pass, California mine—to expand domestic processing and magnet manufacturing. The Defense Department said the funding will "secure a near-term market for rare earths" and pledged further work with industry to build a resilient U.S. supply chain. China, which dominates global supply, is tightening its own controls. Beijing’s Ministry of State Security warned that foreign intelligence services are attempting to smuggle rare-earth products, while sources told Reuters that regulators quietly issued the first 2025 mining and smelting quotas without the usual public notice, instructing companies not to disclose volumes. At the same time, Chinese customs data show rare-earth exports rebounding 80 % in June to 3,808 tons after trade-war curbs were eased. Industry executives say the competing policy moves underscore an intensifying strategic contest over critical minerals. U.S. officials see domestic mining and targeted equity stakes as a path to dilute Chinese leverage, but some producers argue the government’s direct investments distort the market. Analysts add that any meaningful shift in supply chains will require sustained public funding, long-term purchase guarantees and environmental approvals that can outlast election cycles.